Clinical Audiologist

Treat patients with hearing or balance problems for ear diseases.

Quick Stats

Outlook

Good

Salary Range

$43,000 – $102,000

Data from U.S. Department of Labor

What do Clinical Audiologists do?

A Clinical Audiologist specializes in diseases of the ear. When a person can’t hear well or develops problems with balance, the Clinical Audiologist runs tests to pinpoint the problem, and then creates a treatment plan to help the person overcome the issue.

As a Clinical Audiologist, you treat all sorts of people. You may see patients who have been exposed to loud noises for long periods of time, such as Construction Workers and sullen teens after a long night spent in a loud concert hall. You may also see very young patients who were born unable to hear, as well as older ones who have inner ear problems that cause them to stumble and fall.

First, you sit down with your patient to discuss their symptoms (remember to speak clearly and loudly during your interview). You may put headphones on their ears and ask them to hold up their hands when they hear a noise. You also examine their ears closely, looking for any ruptures or other obvious problems.

Additionally, you may ask them to walk in a straight line with their eyes closed. Then you write down the results of all of your tests in the patient’s record.

To help your patients overcome their ear problems, you may fit them with hearing aids, then instruct them on how to adjust the volume. Of course, you also teach them how to avoid further hearing loss (for example, by getting rid of their headphones or avoiding rock concerts). You may also place implants in the ears of patients who have never been able to hear before. Just imagine, your voice may be the first sound those patients ever hear in their lives!

Should I be a Clinical Audiologist?

You should have
a
doctoral
degree or higher and share these traits:

Detail Oriented:
You pay close attention to all the little details.

Helpful:
You always keep an eye out for what other people need.

Reliable:
You can always be counted on to do a good job.

How to become a Clinical Audiologist

Most Clinical Audiologists have a Doctorate. Start by getting your Bachelor's degree.